GB2481081A

GB2481081A - Line forming game using pieces with variable scoring values

Info

Publication number: GB2481081A
Application number: GB1018712.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shane Maurice Hayes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-08
Filing date: 2010-11-05
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Also published as: GB201018712D0; GB201009551D0; GB2481019A

Abstract

A game apparatus comprises a playing surface 14 defining areas 16, and playing pieces 12, 312 in at least two sets 24, 26, 324 distinguished visually, e.g. by colour. Each piece bears at least one indicia 36, 336 representing a value. During play, each player is assigned a set of pieces, the pieces are placed on vacant areas on the surface until all the areas are filled, and a score is generated based upon the values and relative positions of playing pieces from the same set. In a first embodiment the playing pieces 312 are blocks or cubes having at least four faces bearing a different value indicia 336, and the value of each piece in a game is determined by rolling the piece prior to play. The indicia 336 may be numbers or representations of playing cards (see fig. 7). In a second embodiment each playing piece bears a single, unique value within the set, and the total number of pieces is not less than the number of playing areas. The apparatus and game may be represented on display means of computers, mobile telephones or similar apparatus communicatively connected to allow play between remotely located players.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to games and more particularly relates to an apparatus for playing a game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a game apparatus comprising a playing surface and at least two sets of playing piece means, wherein: -the playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a single playing piece means; -each of said sets comprises an equal number of playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes distinguishing means to enable a playing piece means of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of adifferentset; -each playing piece means comprises at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means.

Preferably the playing surface is located on a playing board, and in which each playing piece means comprises a block having at least four faces.

Preferably each face includes one indicium for associating a value to that face, and in a preferred embodiment, a different indicium is displayed on each face.

Preferably, each playing piece in a set includes different indicia.

In some embodiments, each indicium is a representation of a playing card.

Preferably the game further comprises a set of rules in which -each player of the game has a set of playing piece means; -a single value of each playing piece means is randomly selected from said indicia; -said players take turns to place a single playing piece means in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; and -a score is generated by summing the values of any playing piece means from one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means.

In embodiments in which each indicium is a representation of a playing card, preferably the game further comprises a set of rules in which -each player of the game has a set of playing piece means; -a value of each playing piece means is randomly selected from said indicia; -said players take turns to place a single playing piece means in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; and -a score is generated based on combinations of said representations of playing cards present on playing piece means that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means from a single one of said sets.

Preferably the playing surface comprises a region of a display device, and in which the playing piece means comprises a representation of a token having at least four indicia associated with said token.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises processing means, arranged in operation to implement rules according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -randomly selecting one of the at least four indicia so as to associate a single value with each playing piece means; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece means from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; -calculating a score by summing the values of any playing piece means from a single one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means.

In embodiments in which each indicium is a representation of a playing card, preferably the playing surface comprises a region of a display device, and in which each of the playing piece means comprises a representation of a token having at least four representations of playing cards associated with said token. Preferably the apparatus further comprises processing means, arranged in operation to implement rules according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -randomly selecting one of the at least four representations of playing cards so as to associate a single value with each playing piece means; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece means from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; -calculating a score based on combinations of said representations of playing cards present on playing piece means that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means from a single one of said sets.

Also according to the invention, there is provided an assembly comprising: -a first game apparatus comprising a first display device, in which a first set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a first set of tokens on said first display device; -a second game apparatus comprising a second display device, in which a second set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a second set of tokens on said second display device, and said second set and said first set comprising an equal number of playing piece means; -first communication means located in said first game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said second game apparatus; -second communication means located in said second game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said first game apparatus; and wherein: -said first and said second display devices are arranged to display a playing surface, such that an identical playing surface is displayed on said first and said second display devices; -said playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece means of said first set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of said second set; -each playing piece means comprises at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means; and -said game data comprises position information of any of said playing piece means from said first and second sets placed on said playing surface, such that said placed playing pieces are displayed on said first and said second display devices simultaneously.

Also according to the invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer readable means having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising: -at least one instruction to display a playing surface, said playing surface comprising an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -at least one instruction to display playing pieces, said playing pieces divided into at least two sets, each of said sets comprising an equal number of playing pieces; each playing piece having a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece of a different set; and each playing piece means comprising at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means; -at least one instruction to implement the rules of the game according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -randomly selecting one of the at least four indicia so as to associate a single value with each playing piece means; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing pieces; -calculating a score by summing the values of any playing pieces from a single one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing pieces.

Also according to the invention, there is provided an assembly comprising: -a first game apparatus comprising a first display device, in which a first set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a first set of tokens on said first display device; -a second game apparatus comprising a second display device, in which a second set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a second set of tokens on said second display device, and said second set and said first set comprising an equal number of playing piece means; -first communication means located in said first game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said second game apparatus; -second communication means located in said second game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said first game apparatus; and wherein: -said first and said second display devices are arranged to display a playing surface, such that an identical playing surface is displayed on said first and said second display devices; -said playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece means of said first set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of said second set; -each playing piece means comprises at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means and each indicium is a representation of a playing card; and -said game data comprises position information of any of said playing piece means from said first and second sets placed on said playing surface, such that said placed playing pieces are displayed on said first and said second display devices simultaneously.

Also according to the invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising computer readable means having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising: -at least one instruction to display a playing surface, said playing surface comprising an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -at least one instruction to display playing pieces, said playing pieces divided into at least two sets, each of said sets comprising an equal number of playing pieces; each playing piece having a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece of a different set; and each playing piece means comprising at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means, each indicium being a representation of a playing card; -at least one instruction to implement the rules of the game according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -randomly selecting one of the at least four representations of playing cards so as to associate a single value with each playing piece means; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece means from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; -calculating a score based on combinations of said representations of playing cards present on playing piece means that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means from a single one of said sets.

According to the invention, there is provided a game apparatus comprising a playing surface and at least two sets of playing piece means, wherein: -the playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -each of said sets comprises an equal number of playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece means of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of a different set; -each playing piece means comprises an indicium for associating a value to that playing piece means; and wherein, in each set, at least two playing piece means have different associated values.

In a preferred embodiment, the playing surface is located on a playing board, which may be made of wood, cardboard, glass or plastic for example, and each playing piece means comprises a physical token.

In a simple version of the game the playing surface comprises playing squares arranged in an array of four rows and four columns, and the indicia of the playing pieces are numerals located on a face of the token.

Preferably the game further comprises a set of rules in which -each player of the game has a set of playing piece means; -said players take turns to place a single playing piece means in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; and -a score is generated by summing the values of any playing piece means from one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means.

Also according to the invention, there is provided a game apparatus comprising a playing board having a playing surface on a first face of said board and at least two sets of playing pieces, wherein: -the playing surface comprises an array of playing squares for receiving a playing piece arranged in an array of four rows and four columns; -each playing piece comprises a physical token; -each of said sets of playing pieces comprises an equal number of tokens; -each token includes a distinguishing feature to enable a token of one set to be distinguished from a token of a different set; -each token includes a numeral located on a face of said token for associating a numerical value to that playing piece; and wherein, in each set, at least two playing pieces have different associated numerical values.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the playing surface comprises a region of a display device, and the playing piece means comprises a representation of a token on a display device. Typically the playing surface comprises an array of playing areas.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises processing means, arranged in operation to implement rules according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece means from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; -calculating a score by summing the values of any playing piece means from a single one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means.

Also according to the invention, there is provided an assembly comprising: -a first game apparatus comprising a first display device, in which a first set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a first set of tokens on said first display device; -a second game apparatus comprising a second display device, in which a second set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a second set of tokens on said second display device, said second set and said first set comprising an equal number of playing piece means; -first communication means located in said first game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said second game apparatus; -second communication means located in said second game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said first game apparatus; and wherein: -said first and said second display devices are arranged to display a playing surface, such that an identical playing surface is displayed on said first and said second display devices; -said playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece means of said first set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of said second set; -each playing piece means comprises an indicium for associating a value to that playing piece means; -said first set and said second set each have at least two playing piece means having different associated values; and -said game data comprises position information of any of said playing piece means from said first and second sets placed on said playing surface, such that said placed playing pieces are displayed on said first and said second display devices simultaneously.

The invention further provides a computer program product comprising computer readable means having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising: -at least one instruction to display a playing surface, said playing surface comprising an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -at least one instruction to display playing pieces, said playing pieces divided into at least two sets, each of said sets comprising an equal number of playing pieces; each playing piece having a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece of a different set; and an indicium associating a value to that playing piece; -at least one instruction to implement the rules of the game according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing pieces; -calculating a score by summing the values of any playing pieces from a single one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a playing board and playing pieces in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2a and Figure 2b show examples of different arrangements of playing areas, where the playing areas are in an hexagonal arrangement; Figure 3 shows a playing board, with playing pieces, in which the board comprises four playing surfaces in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is an illustration of a further embodiment of the invention comprising electronic means to permit the game to be played over a network.

Figure 5 is an illustration of a set of playing pieces in the form of six-sided dice; Figure 6 shows three playing pieces in the form of six-sided dice in which each dice includes indicia in the form of numerals and each dice includes numerals having different values; and Figure 7 shows four playing pieces in the form of poker dice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a physical playing board 10 and playing pieces 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The playing board 10 comprises a square playing surface 14 divided into a plurality of playing areas 16. In this example, the playing surface 14 comprises playing squares 16 arranged in an array or matrix of four rows and four columns. In this way, the playing surface 14 comprises sixteen squares 16 including four corner squares 18, eight edge squares 20 and four central squares 22. Each of the corner squares 18 is adjacent to two edge squares 20, each of the edge squares 20 is adjacent to three squares, namely a corner square 18, an edge square 20 and a central square 22, and each of the central squares 22 is adjacent to four squares namely two edge squares 20 and two other central squares 22.

The playing pieces 12 comprise two sets 24, 26 of eight playing pieces so that the total number of playing pieces 12 equals the number of squares 16 on the playing surface 14. It will be understood that in other embodiments it may be desirable if the total number of playing pieces 12 exceeds the number of playing areas 16. In this example the playing pieces of both sets 24, 26 are disc-shaped tokens having two circular faces 28, 30 and a circumferential edge 32. The playing pieces of a first of the two sets 24 each have an identical band 34 around the circumferential edge 32 which acts as a distinguishing means 34 to allow the pieces of the first set 24 to be distinguished from pieces of the second set 26.

Each playing piece 12 carries an indicium 36. The indicium 36 presents an image to aid identification of each individual playing piece 12 and relates to a value of that playing piece 12. The indicia 36 of each set 24, 26 of playing pieces represent an identical set of values to each other. In this case the indicia 36 are the numerals one to eight which relates to a numerical value of the playing pieces 12. The numerals one to eight are painted on one of the circular faces 28 of the playing pieces 12. In other embodiments, numerals may be engraved in a face of the playing piece, or any other appropriate method of marking the playing piece 12 may be used.

In use, each player has a single set 24, 26 of playing pieces, and the players take it in turn to place a single one of their playing pieces 12 on one of the playing squares 16 on the board 10. Only one playing piece 12 may occupy a given playing area 16 so that when all the pieces 12 have been placed on the playing surface 14, all of the playing areas 16 are filled.

The aim is to place playing pieces 12 on the board 10 such that at least three pieces of a single set 24, 26 lie in an uninterrupted straight line. This line of playing pieces 12 may extend along a row or a column of the playing surface 14 or may extend diagonally across the playing surface 14 such that each of the playing pieces 12 in the line occupies playing squares 16 joined at their corners.

When a player creates a line of three playing piecesi 2 then he scores a number of points equal to the sum of the values of the playing pieces 12 in the line. For example, if a player forms a row of three playing pieces 12 having numerical values of 3, 6 and 7 then he will score 16 points. The game continues until all of the playing pieces 12 have been played and all of the playing areas 16 are occupied by a playing piece 12. The winner of the game is the player to score the greatest number of points.

Each player, therefore, is aiming to place his or her playing pieces 12 on the board to form such a line, while at the same time placing pieces 12 to block their opponent from forming a similar continuous line of pieces 12.

Because it is important to both try and place pieces 12 to form a line and also to place pieces to prevent an opponent from forming a line, a player must think carefully about where to place pieces and also what value pieces to use in each place. Ideally, a player wants to place higher value pieces to form a line, as the values of these pieces will be summed to form the score. Additionally, a player may need to sacrifice his lower scoring pieces to block his opponent's attempts to -14-score.

Typically, a tournament will be played consisting of ten games, with the cumulative total of the scores from each of the games determining the overall winner.

An additional rule may be included in the game play whereby if a player manages to place four of his playing pieces 12 in a line then he automatically wins the tournament and any previous scores from any games that have already been played are nullified. Alternatively, placing four pieces 12 in a row may generate a nominal score of, for example, fifty points.

Although the game has so far been described in terms of one simple embodiment, it will be understood that other embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.

The playing surface 14 may be divided into any number of playing areas 16 such that the total number of playing areas 16 does not exceed the total number of playing pieces 12 in play, with each player having the same number of playing pieces 12. Preferably the total number of playing areas 16 equals the total number of playing pieces 12 in play. For example, the playing surface 14 may comprise a matrix of 6x6 playing squares 16, and the game may be played with three players each having twelve playing pieces 1 2 or four players each having nine playing pieces 12.

In other embodiments, the playing areas 16 may be of any shape and the playing areas 16 may not be arranged in perpendicular rows and columns. For example, the playing surface 14 may comprise twenty-four circular playing areas 16 arranged in a network such that lines of playing pieces 12 are formed at 60° to each other, as shown in Figures 2a and 2b. The playing areas 16 may be arranged in any suitable layout such that it is possible for playing pieces 12 to be laid so as to form continuous lines.

The sets 24, 26 of playing pieces may not comprise circular discs, and may be other shapes. The playing pieces 12 may be figures, depicting cartoon characters for example, or the playing pieces 12 may be of any other theme or design, for example, they may be in the shape of cars, or have a Christmas theme. In addition, the playing board 10 may also be themed, with a particular graphic design forming a background of the playing surface 14 on which the playing areas 16 are marked.

The distinguishing means 34 may be the colour of the playing pieces 12, with one set of playing pieces being green and the other set of playing pieces being blue, for example. In embodiments in which the value of the playing piece 12 is shown by a numeral on the face 28 of the piece 12, the distinguishing means 34 may be the colour of the numeral. Depending on the design of the playing pieces 12, the distinguishing means 34 may be any means that allows players to distinguish between their pieces and the pieces of their opponents.

In the example described above, the value of each of the pieces 12 was indicated simply by displaying an appropriate number on a face 28 of each of the playing pieces 12. Alternatively, the value may be represented by a symbol displayed on the playing piece 12 or by the particular shape of the playing piece 12, or by any other suitable means. The values of the playing pieces in a set may be any desired set of values.

In some embodiments, the game described above may be used as an educational aid to help children with their arithmetic skills, or the game may be used to help children with another aspect of their learning. For example, the playing pieces 12 may comprise the names of rivers or mountains, and the associated numerical score may be the length of the river or the height of the mountain respectively.

Alternatively, the game may be used to learn the atomic number of elements in the periodic table, or the dates of historic events.

In some embodiments, the total number of playing pieces 12 supplied with the game may be more than the number of playing pieces 12 used during a game.

For example, using the embodiment described above in which the board 10 comprises sixteen squares 16 and two players are playing, the game kit may contain twenty or twenty-five playing pieces 12. At the start of the game the players must draw eight playing pieces 12 each. In such embodiments, the playing pieces 12 must comprise distinguishing means 34 that the players can add to each of the pieces 12 after they have been selected. For example, the distinguishing means 34 may be a coloured peg (not shown) that is fitted into a hole in the playing piece 12, or a coloured base (not shown) that the playing piece 12 slots into.

The random drawing of playing pieces 12 at the start of a game adds an element of chance to the game, as each player may then have different value pieces in their respective sets of playing pieces 12.

Figure 3 shows one embodiment of the game in which there are multiple layers 40 each comprising a playing surface 114. In particular, in this example there are four playing surfaces 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d each comprising a matrix of sixteen playing squares 116 as described above. These surfaces 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d are arranged in a stacked configuration. The playing surfaces 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d are supported at their corners by vertical support pillars 42. However, it will be understood that the playing surfaces 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d may be supported by any suitable means that permit playing pieces 112 to be placed easily on each of the surfaces.

This arrangement of playing surfaces 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d creates a three-dimensional playing board, which in this example comprises 4x4x4 playing squares 116.

The playing surfaces 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d lie in parallel planes and are located directlyabove each other. The playing surfaces 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d are spaced apart such that each of the playing surfaces is the same distance from the playing surfaces directly below and above it. The playing surfaces are spaced such that a player can move his hand between the surfaces to place a playing piece 112 easily on any available playing area 116.

The game is played in the same way as described above, with each player having a single set of playing pieces 112, and the players taking it in turn to place a single one of their playing pieces 112 on any one of the playing squares 116 on the board. Playing pieces 112 may be placed on any one of the multiple playing surfaces 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d.

As before, the aim is to place playing pieces 112 on the board such that at least three pieces 112 of a single set lie in an uninterrupted straight line. In this embodiment, this line of playing pieces 112 may extend along a row or a column of a single playing surface or may extend diagonally across a single playing surface. Additionally, lines of playing pieces 112 may span more than one playing surface 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d. For example, a first piece in a line may occupy a corner square 11 8d of the lower playing surface 1 14d, a second piece in the line may occupy an adjacent edge square 120c but in a second layer 114c, and a third piece in the line may occupy a further edge square 120b in a third layer 114b.

Scoring lines of playing pieces 112 may also be formed in any other directions that span more than one layer 40 or playing surface, for example, a line of playing pieces 112 may extend vertically with each piece 112 occupying the equivalent square in each layer 40.

The game continues until all of the playing pieces 112 have been played and all of the playing areas 116 are occupied by a playing piece 112. Any player who has formed a line of three playing pieces 112, in any direction, scores a number of points equal to the sum of the values of the playing pieces 112 in the line. If a player manages to place four of his playing pieces 112 in a line then he automatically wins the tournament and any previous scores from any games that have already been played are nullified. Alternatively, placing four pieces 112 in a row may generate a nominal score of, for example, fifty points.

In a further embodiment, and as illustrated in Figure 4, the game apparatus comprises an electronic device 50 having a screen 52 and input means 54. The electronic device 50 comprises means for displaying a playing surface 214 on a first region 56 of the screen 52. The playing surface 214 may be of any suitable size and configuration as described above. A plurality of playing pieces 212 is displayed in a second region 58 of the screen 52. The plurality of playing pieces 212 may comprise one set of playing pieces for use by one player. Alternatively, the second region 58 may display more than one set of playing pieces 212, 212' to be manipulated by a number of players, as described below.

The input means 54 allows a player to manipulate his pieces 212 and place a single playing piece 212 in a chosen playing area 216 of the playing surface 214.

In a preferred embodiment, the screen 52 is a touch-sensitive screen, and the playing pieces 212 may be manipulated by dragging and dropping them onto a playing area 216. A player presses his finger onto the part of the screen 52 on which a chosen playing piece 212 is depicted and which the player wishes to play.

The player then draws his finger across the screen 52 until the representation of the playing piece 212 is within a chosen playing area 216. The player can then remove his finger from the screen 52 and the playing piece 212 will be shown within the playing area 216.

In other embodiments, the input means 54 may be any suitable means to permit a player to select a playing piece 212 he wishes to play and to move the playing piece 212 to a chosen playing area 216 on the playing surface 214. The input means 54 may be a keyboard, joystick, mouse, touch sensitive pad, or similar.

It may be preferable in some embodiments if, once a playing piece 212 has been placed in a playing area 216, the playing piece 212 is locked in position so that it cannot subsequently be moved.

In preferred embodiments, the electronic device 50 comprises processing means.

Once both players have played all their pieces, the processing means calculates any scores that have been generated by the players and displays these on the screen 52 in a results table or similar.

The electronic device 50 may be a mobile phone, or computer, or any other

suitable device.

Preferably, the device 50 comprises communication means for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from other electronic devices 50. The data may be transmitted directly between two electronic devices 50, for example via a BluetoothTM connection, or the game data may be transmitted via a network 60, allowing multiple devices 50 to be connected. In some embodiments a server 62 is connected to the network 60. The server 62 comprises a memory which stores data including players' scores. Once a player has played a game, they may transmit their score, via the network 60 to the server 62. These scores can then be accessed by players to generate a leader board that displays the highest scores and the associated players' names.

In one embodiment of the invention two mobile phones 50, 50' are connected via a BluetoothTM connection. An identical playing surface 214 is displayed on the screen 52, 52' of each of the phones 50, 50'. A first one of the phones 50 also includes a region of the screen 52 which displays the first player's playing pieces 212. Similarly, a second one of the two phones 50' includes a region of the screen 52' which displays the second player's playing pieces 212'. Preferably the first player using the first phone 50 is unable to see the playing pieces 212' of the second player until those playing pieces 212' are played.

When a player places one of his pieces 212, 212' on the playing surface 214, by any of the means described above, the playing piece 212, 212' is displayed on both screens 52, 52' simultaneously. In this way, both players are able to see the pieces 212, 212' once they have been placed on the virtual playing board 210.

-20 -In a further embodiment, the processing means is arranged such that a player may play a one player game in which the processing means implements instructions so as to form an opponent, or second player, in the game. In this way, the electronic device 50 simulates a virtual player. In these embodiments, the electronic device preferably also includes input means to allow a player to select whether he wishes to play a one player game or connect to another device 50 as described above.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the playing pieces 312 are dice each having six faces. Each face of a single dice carries an indicium 336 relating a value to that face. In this example, the playing pieces 312 are standard six-sided dice having the values 1 to 6 displayed on the faces by means of arrays of dots.

In other embodiments the playing pieces may comprise different shaped multi-faceted blocks having four or more faces. Each face of the multi-faceted block carries an indicium allowing a value to be associated with that face as described previously. For example, the playing pieces may be octahedral, having eight faces each displaying a different value.

Preferably each set of playing pieces comprises identical shaped blocks bearing the same indicia. However, in a single set each of the playing pieces may be different. That is, each of the playing pieces may have a different number of faces, or all of the playing pieces may have the same number of faces but each playing piece may display different indicia.

For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 a set of playing pieces 324 comprises eight playing pieces 312 each having six sides. The playing pieces 312 are identical with each playing piece 312 displaying the values ito 6 by means of arrays of dots. In another embodiment, although each set of playing pieces comprises eight playing pieces 4i2 each having six sides, the values associated -21 -with the faces are different on each playing piece 412, as shown in Figure 6 for three playing pieces 412.

As previously described at least one set of playing pieces comprises distinguishing means to allow the playing pieces of that set to be distinguished from playing pieces of other sets.

To begin the game each player receives a single set of playing pieces 324, 424.

The player then rolls his pieces 312, 412 to determine the playing piece values that will be used during the game. For example, in the embodiment in which the playing pieces 312 comprise six-sided dice, the player rolls each of the eight dice of this set 324, and the values that are then shown uppermost on each of the dice are the values of those playing pieces 312 to be used during the game. In the example shown in Figure 5, a first set of playing pieces 324 has been rolled to show the values 5, 4, 1, 6, 1, 2, 6, 1. A second set of playing pieces 326 (not shown) may have been rolled to display the values 1, 4, 5, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3.

The game then continues as previously described. Clearly, if a player has rolled his dice and they have landed showing higher value faces, then that player is likely to play to try and create lines to score highly. If a player has rolled dice and has lower value pieces then he may play a defensive game, blocking the other player from forming lines and scoring.

Preferably the players do not see the playing pieces 312, 412 of their opponent.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the playing pieces 512 comprise poker dice. Each face of the dice displays a representation of a playing card, as shown schematically in Figure 7. To begin the game, each player rolls his dice to determine the value of his playing pieces 512, as previously described. In this version of the game, however, the players score according to the poker hand' that is achieved on the board. For example, a player achieving a line of three Jacks would score higher than a player achieving a line of Jack, Queen, King. The -22 -ranking of different poker hands is shown in Table I below.

Table 1

Four in a line Three in a line

AAAA AAA

KKKK KKK

QQQQ QQQ

JJJJ JJJ

10101010 101010 9999 999

AKQJ AKQ

KQJ1O KQJ QJ1O9 QJ1O J 109 As before, players can choose to play their playing pieces 512 to add to a line of their pieces 512 already on the playing board 510, or to block an opponent's line.

If a first player has two Kings already on the board 510, and an opponent has two Aces, then the first player must decide whether to add to his own line, thereby gaining a score for three Kings in a line, or to block his opponent's line to prevent the possibility of his opponent scoring three Aces in a line.

In previous embodiments, if a player placed four of his playing pieces in a line then he automatically won the game or tournament. In embodiments in which the playing pieces 512 comprise poker dice it may be possible for a first player to get four Queens in a line, for example, and then the second player to get four Aces in a line. In this case, the second player with the higher scoring line would win the game, even though the first player had achieved four playing pieces in a line first.

Claims

-23 -CLAIMS1. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface and at least two sets of playing piece means, wherein: -the playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a single playing piece means; -each of said sets comprises an equal number of playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes distinguishing means to enable a playing piece means of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of adifferentset; -each playing piece means comprises at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the playing surface is located on a playing board, and in which each playing piece means comprises a block having at least four faces.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which each face includes one indicium for associating a value to that face.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which a different indicium is displayed on each face.
5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which each playing piece in a set includes different indicia.
6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which each indicium is a representation of a playing card.
7. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a set of rules in which -each player of the game has a set of playing piece means; -24 - -a single value of each playing piece means is randomly selected from said indicia; -said players take turns to place a single playing piece means in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; and -a score is generated by summing the values of any playing piece means from one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means.
8. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a set of rules in which -each player of the game has a set of playing piece means; -a value of each playing piece means is randomly selected from said indicia; -said players take turns to place a single playing piece means in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; and -a score is generated based on combinations of said representations of playing cards present on playing piece means that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means from a single one of said sets.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the playing surface comprises a region of a display device, and in which the playing piece means comprises a representation of a token having at least four indicia associated with said token.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, in which the apparatus further comprises processing means, arranged in operation to implement rules according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -randomly selecting one of the at least four indicia so as to associate a single value with each playing piece means; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece means from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; -calculating a score by summing the values of any playing piece means from -25 -a single one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means.
11. An apparatus according to claim 6, in which the playing surface comprises a region of a display device, and in which each of the playing piece means comprises a representation of a token having at least four representations of playing cards associated with said token.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, in which the apparatus further comprises processing means, arranged in operation to implement rules according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -randomly selecting one of the at least four representations of playing cards so as to associate a single value with each playing piece means; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece means from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; -calculating a score based on combinations of said representations of playing cards present on playing piece means that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means from a single one of said sets.
13. An assembly comprising: -a first game apparatus comprising a first display device, in which a first set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a first set of tokens on said first display device; -a second game apparatus comprising a second display device, in which a second set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a second set of tokens on said second display device, and said second set and said first set comprising an equal number of playing piece means; -first communication means located in said first game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said second game -26 -apparatus; -second communication means located in said second game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said first game apparatus; and wherein: -said first and said second display devices are arranged to display a playing surface, such that an identical playing surface is displayed on said first and said second display devices; -said playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece means of said first set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of said second set; -each playing piece means comprises at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means; and -said game data comprises position information of any of said playing piece means from said first and second sets placed on said playing surface, such that said placed playing pieces are displayed on said first and said second display devices simultaneously.
14. A computer program product comprising computer readable means having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising: -at least one instruction to display a playing surface, said playing surface comprising an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -at least one instruction to display playing pieces, said playing pieces divided into at least two sets, each of said sets comprising an equal number of playing pieces; each playing piece having a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece of a different set; and each playing piece means comprising at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means; -at least one instruction to implement the rules of the game according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -27 - -randomly selecting one of the at least four indicia so as to associate a single value with each playing piece means; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing pieces; -calculating a score by summing the values of any playing pieces from a single one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing pieces.
15. An assembly comprising: -a first game apparatus comprising a first display device, in which a first set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a first set of tokens on said first display device; -a second game apparatus comprising a second display device, in which a second set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a second set of tokens on said second display device, and said second set and said first set comprising an equal number of playing piece means; -first communication means located in said first game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said second game apparatus; -second communication means located in said second game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said first game apparatus; and wherein: -said first and said second display devices are arranged to display a playing surface, such that an identical playing surface is displayed on said first and said second display devices; -said playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece means of said first set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of said second set; -each playing piece means comprises at least four indicia for associating -28 -values to said playing piece means and each indicium is a representation of a playing card; and -said game data comprises position information of any of said playing piece means from said first and second sets placed on said playing surface, such that said placed playing pieces are displayed on said first and said second display devices simultaneously.
16. A computer program product comprising computer readable means having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising: -at least one instruction to display a playing surface, said playing surface comprising an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -at least one instruction to display playing pieces, said playing pieces divided into at least two sets, each of said sets comprising an equal number of playing pieces; each playing piece having a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece of a different set; and each playing piece means comprising at least four indicia for associating values to said playing piece means, each indicium being a representation of a playing card; -at least one instruction to implement the rules of the game according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -randomly selecting one of the at least four representations of playing cards so as to associate a single value with each playing piece means; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece means from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; -calculating a score based on combinations of said representations of playing cards present on playing piece means that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means from a single one of said sets.
17. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface and at least two sets of playing piece means, wherein: -29 - -the playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a single playing piece means; -each of said sets comprises an equal number of playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes distinguishing means to enable a playing piece means of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of a different set; -each playing piece means comprises an indicium for associating a value to that playing piece means; and wherein, in each set, each playing piece means has a different associated value, and a total number of playing pieces is not less than the number of playing areas.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17, in which the playing surface is located on a playing board, and in which each playing piece means comprises a physical token.
19. An apparatus according to claim 17 or claim 18, in which the playing areas comprise playing squares arranged in an array of four rows and four columns.
20. An apparatus according to claim 18, in which said distinguishing means comprises a peg insertable in a part of said token.
21. An apparatus according to claim 18, in which said distinguishing means comprises a base securable to a face of said token.
22. An apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 21, further comprising a set of rules in which -each player of the game has a set of playing piece means; -said players take turns to place a single playing piece means in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; and -a score is generated by summing the values of any playing piece means from one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means.

-30 -
23. An apparatus according to claim 17 in which the playing surface comprises a region of a display device, and in which the playing piece means comprises a representation of a token on a display device.
24. An apparatus according to claim 23, in which the playing surface comprises playing areas, and the apparatus further comprises processing means, arranged in operation to implement rules according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece means from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing piece means; -calculating a score by summing the values of any playing piece means from a single one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line comprising at least three of said playing piece means.
25. An assembly comprising: -a first game apparatus comprising a first display device, in which a first set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a first set of tokens on said first display device; -a second game apparatus comprising a second display device, in which a second set of playing piece means comprises a representation of a second set of tokens on said second display device, said second set and said first set comprising an equal number of playing piece means; -first communication means located in said first game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said second game apparatus; -second communication means located in said second game apparatus for transmitting game data to and receiving game data from said first game apparatus; and wherein: -said first and said second display devices are arranged to display a playing surface, such that an identical playing surface is displayed on said first and said -31 -second display devices; -said playing surface comprises an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -each playing piece means includes a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece means of said first set to be distinguished from a playing piece means of said second set; -each playing piece means comprises an indicium for associating a value to that playing piece means; and -said first set and said second set comprises playing piece means each having different associated values; and -said game data comprises position information of any of said playing piece means from said first and second sets placed on said playing surface, such that said placed playing pieces are displayed on said first and said second display devices simultaneously.
26. A computer program product comprising computer readable means having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising: -at least one instruction to display a playing surface, said playing surface comprising an array of playing areas for receiving a playing piece means; -at least one instruction to display playing pieces, said playing pieces divided into at least two sets, each of said sets comprising an equal number of playing pieces; each playing piece having a distinguishing feature to enable a playing piece of one set to be distinguished from a playing piece of a different set; and an indicium associating a value to that playing piece; -at least one instruction to implement the rules of the game according to the method steps of -assigning a single set of playing piece means to a player; -on subsequent turns, placing a single playing piece from each set in a vacant playing area until all said playing areas are filled with playing pieces; -calculating a score by summing the values of any playing pieces from a single one of said sets that lie on said playing surface in a line -32 -comprising at least three of said playing pieces.
27. A game apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
28. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface and playing pieces substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings, the playing pieces being placed in accordance with the rules substantially as herein described.